George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-09-02-0093

To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 2 December 1772

From Bryan Fairfax

Decemr the 2d 1772

Dear Sir,

When I parted with You on Pohic You did not seem inclinable to take my Land there, and I have therefore been bargaining with Mr Henderson about it as I owe a debt to the Store in Alexandria: But as I did not know but what You might come to some Terms with Mr Mercer and in that case choose to purchase mine, I chose to wait till your return before I shewed the Land to Mr Henderson, that if you thought proper you might have the preference; for I think myself under many obligations to you.1 Mrs Fairfax has been unable to travel so that I could not get the Deed acknowledg’d on her part before Witnesses going to the Genl Court. But would not the Relinquishment of Dower before the Justices be sufficient?2 I hope to hear that Mrs Washington & Family have returned in good Health. I am Dr sir Yr most obedt Servt

Bryan Fairfax

ALS, DLC:GW.

1On 25 Sept. GW went with Fairfax “to look at some Land of his on Pohick” (Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 3:132). See also Fairfax to GW, 15 July and 3 Aug. 1772. For a general account of GW’s land dealings with Fairfax at this time, see Fairfax to GW, 20 Jan. 1772, n.1. Alexander Henderson of Colchester acquired the 463½-acre tract on Pohick Creek from Fairfax in April 1773 (Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 3:132).

2For the land that GW bought of Fairfax, see Fairfax to GW, 3 Aug. 1772, n.4. Elizabeth Fairfax’s consent to the sale of the land was given in a privy examination by Fairfax County justices John Carlyle and William Ramsay and recorded in the Fauquier County court (deed of release, Fauquier County Deed Book 6 [1774–78], 167–69, ViWarFauCt).

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